Odiham man shares memories of Max Bygraves (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Singer and comedian visited the former Regal cinema

7:30pm Sunday 23rd September 2012 in Local By Chris Gregory

AN ODIHAM man has been remembering how the late singing star and comedian Max Bygraves would visit the former Regal cinema in the village.

John Merryweather, 58, of King John’s Road, said when the star, who died aged 89 on August 31, was making the film Charley Moon in nearby villages, he and the director and cameraman would drop into the cinema late at night to view the day’s rushes.

Mr Merryweather’s father Bob was the projectionist at the cinema, which was where the current Regal Heights development now stands.

He said: “They would come in after the late show and it might only be three minutes of film or it could be 30, but they would sit and watch. And then at the end Max Bygraves would always give my father a fiver from his wallet, which was a lot of money in 1955. He was a very likeable bloke.”

The Gazette reported how Mr Bygraves was seen around Upton Grey, South Warnborough and Greywell during the summer of 1955, when the feature film was being shot.